Madeleine McTernan joins Madeleine Gough on plane to Tokyo Olympics

It’s a tale of two Maddies as a second athlete who cut their teeth in Coffs Coast swimming pools makes the Australian team.

Former Coffs swimmers Maddy Gough (left) and Maddie McTernan have qualified for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Madeleine McTernan has achieved a long held dream and has made the Australian Paralympic swim team.

The former Coffs Harbour swimmer joins Madeleine Gough on the plane to Tokyo after overcoming injury during a tough five days of qualifying at the Australian Swimming Titles in Adelaide.

McTernan broke down in tears on the pool deck with her St Hilda’s multiclass teammate Natalie Shaw and coach Ken Malcolm, when she was informed that she had made the team.

“It’s been a dream come true for me, I’ve always wanted to swim for Australia at the Paralympic Games and now I am off to Tokyo,” McTernan said.

Former Coffs swimmer Maddie McTernan with her ticket to Tokyo.

McTernan’s dad Paul was equally emotional and said he was also “ecstatic” when Gough also secured her spot.

“My wife and I are so proud of both girls’ achievements, and I was choked up with emotions and I shed a tear when her name was called that she was in the Australian Paralympic team for Tokyo,” he said.

“Wow, two Coffs Harbour girls are on the way to Tokyo.”

McTernan, an S14 class swimmer with autism and anxiety disorders, set a world record time in the 400m Freestyle multi-class at the Australian Virtual Short Course championships in December.

Meanwhile, Gough set the pool alight in Adelaide, smashing the Australian women’s 1500m record on her way to qualifying for her first Olympic Games. It’s the first time the women’s 1500m event will be held at the Olympics.

Madeleine Gough during the Australian Swimming Tokyo Olympic Games Team Announcement at the SA Aquatic & Leisure Centre on June 17, 2021 in Adelaide. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

“It’s surreal and amazing to break the Australian record, I am happy with that, and to be one of the first women in the world to swim a 1500m race at an Olympics is quite exciting as well,” Gough said.

The 22-year-old had been in fine form in the lead up to the qualifiers, breaking the Australian 1500m short course record and posting the fifth fastest time in history last September

The Coffs Harbour swimming community was overjoyed at the news with Gough and McTernan’s former Coffs Harbour coach Eugene Brogmus congratulating the pair, saying he was “so proud” of them for achieving their dreams.

“They always had the discipline, drive, and determination to make it to the top of swimming, this is a great moment in time for the Coffs Harbour community,” he said.

Madeleine Gough after winning the Women's 1500 metre Freestyle final and Kiah Melverton who also qualified during the Australian National Olympic Swimming Trials. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

Both Gough and McTernan had moved to the Gold Coast with their families to help achieve their sporting dreams and Maddie’s mum Allison McTernan said while moving was a “major commitment” it was a necessary one.

“My husband and I realised if Maddie was going to achieve her dream we had to move to where the best swimming programs are and at present, Queensland is Australia’s premier swimming location,” she said.

“Our family will never forget that it was Coffs Harbour swim club and her former coach Eugene Brogmus that built Maddie’s solid swimming foundation and whatever successes Maddie achieves in swimming.

“You can take the girls out of Coffs Harbour; you cannot take Coffs Harbour out of our girls”.